Do Woodpeckers Eat Other Birds?

Woodpeckers? What do they eat? Do Woodpeckers eat other birds?

Many woodpeckers eat insects.

And there are several North American wild bird species of downy woodpecker that have been known to occasionally feed on small birds. One of the most famous cases is the Pacific Loon. That was once considered extinct until it was rediscovered in 1951.

Biologists believe this bird’s population grew so large. Because it had a food source available in the form of small songbirds and gray squirrels. This fact has caused some people to suggest that woodpeckers may be more beneficial than harmful. Especially when they come into contact with humans or their homes.

The blog post will explore the topic further by looking at all possible angles for both sides of this debate.

Red Bellied Woodpecker — *Image Credit: Pixabay.com*

What Do Woodpeckers Eat?

Woodpeckers are known for their special beaks. That they use to peck on trees and create holes (nest hole). As a result of this behavior, they eat the grubs that live in the wood. Also, sometimes even they eat other insects like ants and bees.

They also eat some plants like fruit and peanuts. This explains why you would see them around your house all year long if it has an apple tree bark or almond bush growing nearby.

List of Woodpeckers Food

Well, here is a food list of Woodpeckers. These are:

Insects
Grubs
Ants
Bees
Wasps
Fruits
Peanuts
Termites

What Insects Do Woodpeckers Eat?

You may wonder if Woodpeckers eat wood boring insects or not? Well, they do. So now the question is what insects do adult & smaller Woodpeckers eat?

Let’s go to check the list.

Some insects that woodpeckers eat include:

Carpenter Ants
Carpenter Bees
Beetles
Bees and Wasps

Do Woodpeckers Eat Grubs?

Grubs can be defined as the larvae of insects. Like beetles and flies. So do woodpeckers eat grubs? Well, they definitely do.

And we already confirmed that they also enjoy eating bees and wasps. That both feed on pollen and nectar. So therefore they belong to the insect family.

Do Woodpeckers Eat Ants?

So do woodpeckers eat ants? Well, it depends on the type of ants. Ants are a very diverse group of insects. Some black backed Woodpecker eat plants and some eat other insects.

Also some ants will help control grub populations in your yard. Especially if they get into the earth beneath it. In general, this is not a problem for humans but can be destructive to trees.

In our opinion, Woodpeckers definitely do enjoy eating some types of ant. But don’t worry about them attacking your skin. Because many woodpecker species have a very small mouth opening and find it difficult to actually break into your skin.

Do Woodpeckers Eat Bees?

If you’re wondering, do woodpeckers eat bees? Well, there are some types of pileated woodpecker that will eat bees.

Most bee species spend their time collecting pollen or nectar to help them survive in harsh climates and environments. So when great spotted Woodpecker see a bee, they begin to fly closer to collect the food. They do it before it gets far away enough to escape.

As mentioned previously, all members of the insect family are eaten by woodpeckers if they get too close. Because many have an abundance of protein which helps maintain muscle mass during flight.

Do Woodpeckers Eat Wasps?

Do woodpeckers eat wasps? Yes, they do.

Wasps are also insects and will provide the same benefits as bees in terms of protein at their larvae stage. So if you see a wasp in or around your home and it comes to rest on a tree trunk where a bird can snatch it, there is a good chance that these guys will be eaten too.

Do Woodpeckers Eat Fruits?

Do woodpeckers eat fruits? Some types of red headed woodpecker definitely enjoy eating fruits. Such as cherries, blueberries, and some oranges.

These birds are better hunters than others who usually stick to insects. Because they like the sweeter things in life. But remember, it does depend on the type of adult birds.

Do Woodpeckers Eat Peanuts?

You may be wondering, do woodpeckers eat peanuts? Well, it depends on the type of woodpecker species.

Some Woodpecker species will eat peanuts if left out for them while others not so much. Peanuts are rich in protein like other insects. It is not bad as a Woodpecker feeder. But also contain fiber and fat. So make sure you don’t leave out too many at once. Because they can get sick from eating too many at once.

Do Woodpeckers Eat Termites?

Some species definitely do. So what type of woodpecker eats termites? Well, there are three main types:

Golden Fronted Woodpecker
Red Bellied Woodpecker
Ivory Billed Woodpecker

At the larvae stage, all Woodpeckers will provide an abundance of protein for these bird species. As well as aid in giving them the strength they need to fly and survive.

So are you leave out an ant trap or a wasp trap near your home and it works? Then you should see fewer birds flying around your house looking for backyard feeder food other than insects. This should help with other problems like droppings on siding and loud noises early in the morning or late at night.

How To Get Rid Of Woodpeckers On House?

You may scare of Woodpeckers if they disturb other birds of your house. Because they make a huge noise when they impact the house or anything which is in their way. Well, if you are planning to get rid of them from your property, don’t worry. Because here we have some methods for that:

1. Scare Them Away

When woodpeckers visit your garden or yard as backyard birds, just try to shoo them away from that place. Do it just by making noises and sounds. Like banging something on the wall or shouting at them loudly. Make sure you bang something hard. So it can produce a loud sound in order to scare them away from there. If this doesn’t work, move on to another method.

2. Use Woodpecker Repellents And Deterrents

There are many options available when it comes to woodpecker deterrents. You can use propane cannons, barriers, reflective tape strips, and netting material to scare away the birds.

3. Trap Them

If repellents won’t work out for you then traps are another option that will help you get rid of them from your property. All you need is a properly sized trap that is capable of catching these birds without harming them. So it’s all up to you what type of trap you want to use according to the size of the bird. These traps are available at various prices all depending on how effective they are at trapping woodpeckers effectively.

4. Use Bird Repellent Gel And Sprays

There are various commercial products available in the market. Those are specially designed to keep away woodpeckers from their habitat. Rather than killing them, these repellents just drive them away. So that they don’t visit your garden or yard again. The best part about this method is that you can use it on trees and shrubs in order to get rid of woodpeckers in a humane way without causing any harm to them.

5. Use Demon Repellent And Scare Tape

Demon scare tape is another effective solution when it comes to keeping woodpeckers out of your property by scaring them with loud noise. Because each time they will hit against the reflective strips, it will produce a loud noise. Also, there is another product called demon repellent which will leave a horrible odor on the feathers of woodpeckers. So that make them feel uncomfortable whenever they land on your house or property.

Final Thoughts

That’s it! I believe the above article is helpful for you to find out do woodpeckers eat wasps? Do they eat fruits? do they eat other birds? Or, do they eat peanuts?

Woodpeckers are known for their constant pecking on trees. But the question of whether they eat other birds is largely unclear.

If you’ve ever seen a woodpecker pecking away at the side of a tree, then your answer is “maybe.” Woodpeckers are mostly herbivores. But they have been known to eat bird eggs and nestlings from other birds. As well as insects that live in trees.

They have been observed eating invertebrates and small mammals in addition to fruits and berries. So it’s possible that some woodpecker species may also consume other birds as well.

If you’re looking for more information about what these fascinating creatures enjoy eating or if you need tips & tricks regarding bird care – we’ve got everything you need! Feel free to contact us today with any questions.